Goal Scoring Statistics – Modern Trends in Football (Soccer)

A coupla days ago I quoted some percentages that used to be accurate back in the mid-nineties – and rightly so some good folks asked if they were still up to date.

so… i did a bit of digging and sourced this document: http://www.oregonyouthsoccer.org/assets/coaches/Trends_in_Modern_Football_UEFA.pdf

IMHO this pdf file is well worth the read from front to back….

Here are the stats as they stand in the mid 00’s – I would guess that this document is about 4-5 years old (couldn’t find anything this extensive elsewhere) – if someone can that would be great – for now though these numbers are obviously more up-to-date than what I had… I will be working on a ‘what does this mean?’ and offer those additional thoughts for the sharks to feed on in another fan post…

48% of goals scored are after 1 touch at most

29% of goals scored are after 2 touches at most

12% of goals scored are after 3 touches at most

7% of goals scored are after 4 touches at most

4% of goals scored are after 5 touches and more

Goals scored from set pieces 30% (PK, Direct Free Kick, Indirect FK and Corner Kick)

Open Play – 70% of goals scored in open play are the result of accelerated attacks or counter-attacks

Open Play – 30% of goals scored are the result of controlled built up attacks

Open Play – 70% of shots come at the end of sequences of 1 to 3 passes;

Open Play – 90% of shots come at the end of sequences of 6 passes or less

First goal scored = 75% of the time that team wins.

40% of the goals from open play were the result of a quick break.

50% of goals are scored from a cross (1 out of two goals)

79% of goals are scored from inside the 18 yard box

63% of goals are scored between the penalty spot and goal line

so – bottom line – the numbers have changed a wee bit but the law of averages appears to me to be just about the same – set pieces are critical to scoring goals and a ton of goals are scored with just a very few number of passes…